Cannabis didn’t arrive in Missouri with legalization. Long before regulated markets and licensed cultivation, this beloved plant already had a presence in the Show-Me State – first as an agricultural staple, later as an underground crop, and eventually as a legally regulated product. Shining a light on Missouri’s complicated history with cannabis reminds us why local cultivation and community collaboration are the seed of Missouri’s cannabis culture.
Missouri’s relationship with cannabis dates back as early as the 1800s, when industrial hemp was widely grown throughout the Midwest for practical uses, such as rope and textile production. Missouri’s fertile soil and river systems made it well suited for hemp production, and the crop was considered a staple in both national and local agriculture.
In the early 20th century, regulation and restrictions on the use, production, and sale of cannabis began at the state level, with outright prohibitions taking root by the 1920s. In response to an alleged increase in cannabis consumption in the 1930s, The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was the first federal legislation aimed at regulating cannabis in all forms, including non-psychoactive hemp, as the two were not differentiated. These laws would go on to shape the future of cannabis for generations, as well as the stigma surrounding it.
The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 required any person handling cannabis, including hemp, to register with the federal government and pay a prohibitive tax. In addition to targeting physicians and pharmacies who prescribed and sold medicinal cannabis, these strenuous compliance measures rendered the cultivation of cannabis in all forms legally impractical, functionally criminalizing the act. Cannabis was officially outlawed in the United States with the passage of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970.
As enforcement increased, cannabis cultivation moved out of public view. What had once been a legal and profitable crop became associated with criminal activity and scandal, pushing growers underground.
Despite this, cannabis cultivation didn’t disappear in Missouri—it adapted.
Throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, small-scale growers continued to cultivate cannabis privately. During this period, cannabis culture remained localized, passing knowledge down through informal networks. This underground era played a significant role in preserving local genetics and knowledge that would influence future legal markets.
Missouri’s cannabis reform followed a gradual but accelerating path. In 2014, the state decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis, reducing penalties. In 2018, voters approved medical cannabis, establishing a regulated medical marijuana program. And finally in 2022, adult-use cannabis was legalized through a statewide ballot initiative.
Within less than a decade, Missouri transitioned from criminal penalties to full legal access for adults, a rapid shift that fundamentally changed how cannabis was produced, sold, and regulated across the state.
Legalization brought significant changes, including the introduction of state oversight and licensing, the expansion of commercial-scale cultivation, the implementation of product testing and consumer protections, and increased access and visibility for consumers.
Missouri’s cannabis history is more than a legal timeline. It represents decades of agricultural knowledge, genetics shaped by local climate and growing conditions, and passionate communities that sustained the plant through prohibition. Preserving local genetics and cultivation practices helps maintain diversity within the legal market and honors the growers who laid the groundwork for today’s industry. Understanding this history also provides context for why cultivators like Scout & Seed prioritize small-batch growing, local collaboration, and genetic preservation rather than trend-driven production. Cannabis in Missouri has moved from farmland to prohibition, from underground networks to licensed facilities. Each phase has shaped the plant’s presence in the state and the culture surrounding it. As the legal industry continues to evolve, acknowledging Missouri’s cannabis history helps ensure that progress does not come at the expense of identity. Supporting local growers allows the state’s cannabis culture to remain connected to its roots while still moving forward.